BTCC: Snetterton: Rounds 19, 20 & 21 - 28/29th July 2007

TWRv12 · 28 Jul 2007, 14:38 (Ref:1975316)

Plato was quickest in practice 2.

Turk quickest so far in quali.

**touringlegend** · 28 Jul 2007, 14:59 (Ref:1975318)

A Team RAC front row, first time that has been achieved I think this year.

The top 14 cars have qualified basically within 1 second of each other.

TWRv12 · 28 Jul 2007, 16:22 (Ref:1975343)

Plato will have a tough job in race one coming from 8th. Geo should have the upper hand in the first two races.

Hazard · 28 Jul 2007, 20:34 (Ref:1975427)

Grid

1 - Colin Turkington [3] - Team RAC - BMW 320si E90 - 1:12.290

2 - Tom Onslow-Cole [33] - Team RAC - BMW 320si E90 - 1:12.480

3 - Gordon Shedden [52] - Team Halfords - Honda Civic - 1:12.598

4 - Tom Chilton [7] - VX Racing - Vauxhall Vectra - 1:12.650

5 - Fabrizio Giovanardi [5] - VX Racing - Vauxhall Vectra - 1:12.695

6 - Darren Turner [12] - SEAT Sport UK - SEAT León - 1:12.698

7 - Matt Neal [1] - Team Halfords - Honda Civic - 1:12.827

8 - Jason Plato [11] - SEAT Sport UK - SEAT León - 1:12.840

9 - Mat Jackson [48] - Jackson Motorsport - BMW 320si E90 - 1:12.988

10 - Mike Jordan [77] - Team Eurotech - Honda Integra Type-R - 1:12.988

11 - Matt Allison [23] - Motorbase Performance - SEAT Toledo Cupra - 1:13.134

12 - Jason Hughes [28] - Kartworld Racing - MG-ZS - 1:13.309

13 - Eoin Murray [14] - Quest Racing - Alfa Romeo 156 - 1:13.339

14 - Tom Ferrier [24] - Motorbase Performance - SEAT Toledo Cupra - 1:13.345

15 - Dave Pinkney [56] - A-Tech - Alfa Romeo 156 - 1:13.717

16 - John George [55] - TH Motorsport - Honda Integra Type-R - 1:13.767

17 - Erkut Kizilirmak [90] - Arkas Racing - Vauxhall Astra Sport Hatch - 1:14.292

18 - Richard Marsh [59] - A-Tech - Alfa Romeo 156 - 1:14.503

19 - Simon Blanckley [69] - Sibsport - Honda Integra Type-R - 1:14.739

20 - Fiona Leggate [82] - Kartworld Racing - MG-ZS - 1:14.892

21 - Martyn Bell [15] - Team Allaboutproperty.com - BMW 320i E46 - 1:15.878

22 - Rick Kerry [17] - Team AFM Racing - BMW 120d - 1:23.094

23 - Chris Stockton [43] - BTC Racing - Lexus IS200 - No Time

Car graphics by Andy Blackmore - www.andyblackmore.co.uk

Knowlesy · 29 Jul 2007, 11:24 (Ref:1975715)

Well, Turkington took the win on the road but was excluded for running underweight!

So, it's another win for Flash Gordon. As opposed to his teammate who destroyed his and Jason Plato's race with an ambitious move at turn one.

**touringlegend** · 29 Jul 2007, 11:25 (Ref:1975717)

Revenge for last year's antic's perhaps ?

Thats a pity about Turkington. Shedden's rapidly looking the better driver at Team Dynamics, dare I say...

Stuart Hill · 29 Jul 2007, 14:06 (Ref:1975787)

Re: Race 2 Startline accident.

When oh when will the organisers of Motorsport in this country FINALLY realise that it is not safe to allow cars to "race-back" to the Startline when a safety car is being deployed????

Let's just hope that no one was injured in this needless additional accident.

Alan Raine · 29 Jul 2007, 14:10 (Ref:1975791)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuart Hill

Re: Race 2 Startline accident.

When oh when will the organisers of Motorsport in this country FINALLY realise that it is not safe to allow cars to "race-back" to the Startline when a safety car is being deployed????

Let's just hope that no one was injured in this needless additional accident.

Absolutely stupid - and very dangerous

It seems nobody learned from the FFord race at Brands the other week.

**touringlegend** · 29 Jul 2007, 15:29 (Ref:1975826)

The TV didn't cover it very well, but it appeared to me Richard Marsh was caught napping by all the other cars slowing or dodging the medical car.

BootsOntheSide · 29 Jul 2007, 16:33 (Ref:1975847)

Completely unprofessional to cars still running at racing speed with so much of the track blocked. For startline accidents the yellow flag zone should start much earlier.

Some pretty good racing overall, nice to see The OC getting his first win, especially after Colin's race 1 misfortune. Great stuff from Eoin Murray as well - when the car works he's a real threat.

RIXGE · 29 Jul 2007, 17:37 (Ref:1975877)

Again we see safety compromised, for the sake of the TV schedule...IMHO

JamesRamone · 29 Jul 2007, 20:29 (Ref:1975940)

Did anyone else think Matt Neal was plain wreckless diving down the inside of Giovanardi, when Gio had to make that huge save. I just thought "what are you doing Matt?" If someone had done that to him the past 2 years when he was in a title battle he would have gone mad. Im not a fan of either Plato or Neal, i think they are as bad as each other.

Anyway if i remember rightly, Gio outscored plato in each race, so thats good for the title. I was loving each race, but race 3 with plato and gio was awesome. well done onslow-cole. I can see a BMW challenging for the title next season

Alan Raine · 29 Jul 2007, 21:49 (Ref:1975991)

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesRamone

Did anyone else think Matt Neal was plain wreckless diving down the inside of Giovanardi, when Gio had to make that huge save. I just thought "what are you doing Matt?" If someone had done that to him the past 2 years when he was in a title battle he would have gone mad. Im not a fan of either Plato or Neal, i think they are as bad as each other.

Did the same to Plato.

JamesRamone · 29 Jul 2007, 22:18 (Ref:1976009)

yeh i know he did, and that was out of order too. But i want Gio to win the title, so i didn't mind that incident as much

TWRv12 · 29 Jul 2007, 23:06 (Ref:1976025)

Quote:

Originally Posted by touringlegend

The TV didn't cover it very well, but it appeared to me Richard Marsh was caught napping by all the other cars slowing or dodging the medical car.

Can't really blame Marsh.

I agree with everyone who thinks it might be a good idea to slow the cars before they encounter an accident scene, especially when there are officials and marshals on the track. Its a no brainer.

Super Hans · 30 Jul 2007, 07:58 (Ref:1976153)

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesRamone

Did anyone else think Matt Neal was plain wreckless diving down the inside of Giovanardi, when Gio had to make that huge save.

It was a bit naughty, but Matt's a racing driver. He saw the gap open up so he tried to put his car into it. He apologised to Giovanardi afterwards (during a Setanta interview) and Giovarnardi said it was no problem.

mini1400 · 30 Jul 2007, 08:44 (Ref:1976199)

Quote:

Originally Posted by BootsOntheSide

Completely unprofessional to cars still running at racing speed with so much of the track blocked. For startline accidents the yellow flag zone should start much earlier.

The teams knew the Safety Car was going to be deployed and that the track was virtually blocked. I was the flaggie waving the yellow flag on the Senna straight & there was a stationary yellow flag at pit lane enterance. There was also a yellow flag on the start line along with the SC boards. The drivers should have held station from the exit of Russell, as they wouldn't have been able to overtake due to the yello flag zone.

mini1400 · 30 Jul 2007, 08:48 (Ref:1976204)

Quote:

Originally Posted by TWRv12

Can't really blame Marsh.

Why not? he should have slowed down for the yellow flags!

Quote:

Originally Posted by TWRv12

I agree with everyone who thinks it might be a good idea to slow the cars before they encounter an accident scene, especially when there are officials and marshals on the track. Its a no brainer.

They are - the yellow flags started at the pit lane entrance. It was just that the drivers decided to ignore them (again)!

When will the drivers learn what yellow flags mean?

Super Hans · 30 Jul 2007, 09:28 (Ref:1976232)

Indeed. A lot of people seem to be blaming the fact that the medical vehicle was on track. The fact is, whilst approaching an accident scene, drivers should expect the unexpected.

roachy101 · 30 Jul 2007, 14:58 (Ref:1976444)

it was a good days racing. and the tyre bales at the esses remained intact!!

Stuart Hill · 30 Jul 2007, 19:59 (Ref:1976640)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Super Hans

Indeed. A lot of people seem to be blaming the fact that the medical vehicle was on track. The fact is, whilst approaching an accident scene, drivers should expect the unexpected.

From what I saw on tv, NOT there so can't state definatively, was,

Med-car (Porsche) parked in a "fend-off" position, driver's right, (quite correct),
Safety Car awaiting the pack (mid-track), Broken Race cars off track (but close), both left and right of a narrow straight.

IMHO the subsequent accident (sorry, forget the name of the driver involved), was caused by drivers being allowed to race 'back-to-the-line' and not being fully aware of just what the situation was. YES, as mini1400 has stated, they should have slowed for the yellows, but my point is (and I stand to be corrected by people with more knowledge),
is this
If the Safety Car is deployed, then the Yellow Flags and SC boards should travel around the circuit in the same way as Red Flags do. ie; BOTH directions!
If this had happened, then this race would have been under SC rules way before the end of the lap and would have been much safer for all involved, whilst still satisfying the tv committments.

This all sounds very simple and I can't find a fault. There must be one (which will be posted shortly) and I will learn from that. but, if no-one can find a fault in this suggestion (which is not mine, I've heard it for many years), then why has it not yet been implemented?

White flag man · 31 Jul 2007, 15:16 (Ref:1977338)

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesRamone

yeh i know he did, and that was out of order too. But i want Gio to win the title, so i didn't mind that incident as much

So you didn't mind Gio cutting across the grass, at the Bombhole, and driving into the side of Plato, thus punting Matt Jackson wide and losing him 4 places in race 3?

Mini1400. You know as well as I do, they know what the flags mean, some drivers just chose to ignore them. This is why we had the carnage in the Clio on Revetts straight when the red flag came out!

redshoes · 31 Jul 2007, 16:54 (Ref:1977433)

Quote:

Originally Posted by White flag man

So you didn't mind Gio cutting across the grass, at the Bombhole, and driving into the side of Plato, thus punting Matt Jackson wide and losing him 4 places in race 3?

Eh? Gio was only on the grass because Plato put across the track and pushed him there.

BootsOntheSide · 1 Aug 2007, 08:58 (Ref:1977966)

In the days when TV mattered more than safety, that would have been a red-flag situation, because the cars were so close to the track. The safety car system probably needs modifying - maybe use the four 'split' points on the lap to decide where the yellow starts, to make sure cars are not 'racing back' to a dangerous situation.

JamesRamone · 1 Aug 2007, 22:50 (Ref:1978646)

Quote:

Originally Posted by White flag man

So you didn't mind Gio cutting across the grass, at the Bombhole, and driving into the side of Plato, thus punting Matt Jackson wide and losing him 4 places in race 3?

You know, i was only kidding, you might need to take certain things with a pinch of salt.

Also i feel it was not Gio's fault, Plato was pushing/leaning on him, and he had nowhere to go.

Again, after the race, Plato and Gio both seemed to accept it. Mat Jackson was unlucky, but thats just racing sadly

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Silverstone Classic July 27-29th July, 2007	terence	Historic Racing Today	315	4 Sep 2007 09:12
[WTCC] Race 13 & 14 - Anderstorp (SWE), 28/29 July 2007	FIRE	Touring Car Racing	103	4 Aug 2007 16:00
[WTCC] Race 5 & 6 - Valencia (SPA), 19/20 May 2007	FIRE	Touring Car Racing	52	24 May 2007 12:04
Snetterton BTCC 27/28 July (merged)	Remus	Trackside	49	30 Jul 2002 11:44
MG Car Club International Festival 19/20/21 July	Peter Mallett	Historic Racing Today	2	22 Jul 2002 11:50